The RTX 2080 Ti is widely regarded as the best card for 4K gaming and for features like ray tracing and packed with CUDA cores, it’s certainly one of the most powerful options available.

With AMD’s lack of a response to Nvidia’s top-line cards, the RTX 2080 Ti is looking like the biggest fish in the pond. At least until their competitors can roll out their new Navi cards.

Since the RTX 2080 Ti is one of the priciest cards currently available, you’ll want to be sure that you’re getting the best one available. We’ll go over the things that set them apart, including their price, performance, and more.

4. MSI RTX 2080 Ti Sea Hawk X

The Sea Hawk line of cards from MSI is known as one of the more popular choices of liquid-cooled GPUs on the market. It’s the best RTX 2080 Ti for those who prefer it to water cooling to air.

Since this card doesn’t need bulky fans, you’ll find that it’s thinner than other models, making it perfect for builds that only support 2-slot cards.

Of course, the ability to fit this card into 2-slot-compatible systems doesn’t mean that you’ll be putting it into any small form factor builds, or even an external graphics card setup anytime soon. The bulk of the liquid cooler and the rigidity of the tubes means you’re going to need plenty of space.

However, liquid cooling certainly has its advantages, and this card can maintain a stable factory overclock of 1755 MHz. This beats a lot of the competition in its price range.

If you have the room for it, and you’re comfortable with a liquid-cooled card, the Sea Hawk X is a great choice.

5. MSI RTX 2080 Ti Duke

The Duke line of GPUs from MSI is normally one of the more affordable options in their line. Unfortunately, that’s not the case here.

However, at the time of this writing, the demand for a 2080 Ti has driven the price through the roof.

Selling for over 2000 dollars on average, this card simply isn’t worth it. When selling for closer to MSRP, however, the Duke is an excellent choice for those who want excellent cooling and reasonable performance.

The triple fans help keep the Duke cooler than many of its competitors under the same conditions.

In addition, the Duke features a more muted aesthetic when compared to other GPUs. So, if you have more subdued colors in your build, it should work for you.

The backplate is simple, but the MSI dragon motif is a classy touch. Furthermore, there is an RGB strip along the top which isn’t necessary but appreciated.

10. Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition

Finally, we have the reference model from Nvidia, and this card is impressive.

But you’ll have to find it available for the right price.

Founders Edition cards usually sell fast, so if you’re unable to get your hands on one before it goes out of production, you’re going to have to pay high prices.

The dual cooling fans manage to keep this card as cool as the three that you’ll find on every other model. However, that’s partly due to the slower factory clock speed.

This card is clocked at 1635 MHz, which may not be blazingly fast, but it’s still more than powerful enough for the majority of games.

As with most Founders Edition cards, this model features a sleek housing that adheres to Nvidia’s typical styling cues, with a combination of rounded sides and flat angles.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing the best GPU depends on your needs, budget, and your build.

If you prefer a GPU with liquid cooling, then your best bet will be the Sea Hawk X from MSI.

But if you’re looking for a reference RTX 2080 Ti, then you’ll want to go to Nvidia themselves.

For top performance regardless of size, we’d recommend the ASUS ROG STRIX variant.

Finally, for customers who desire reliability above all else, the best choices are the cards from EVGA and Zotac.

When buying a new video card, always be sure to take your time and do your research.

Never pull the trigger on such a pricey purchase without first considering whether or not you’ll be 100% satisfied with the GPU that you get.

If your budget won’t quite stretch far enough to purchase a 2080 Ti you can always look at the RTX 2080 (take a look at our best 2080 guide). This model can be picked up for about $500 less the Ti version.

Also, if you want a complete system then you can always look for a prebuilt RTX 2080 laptop, we have put together a list of the top rated 2080 laptops.

About The Author

David has been interested in computers for over 25 years. From playing games on his parents computer as a kid in the early 90s, to building his first PC in 2003 (and many more since then). He has a passion for everything related to computing and this site is dedicated to helping others find the info they need.